Zeng "Xiao Hai" Zhuojun Retains His Crown as Street Fighter 6 at 2025 Esports World Cup Champion in a Thrilling Final Round Finale

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (August 23, 2025) - Zeng "Xiao Hai" Zhuojun wins the Street Fighter 6 at 2025 Esports World Cup title, retaining his crown and securing the 2025 trophy after a closely contested battle against 15-year-old Chilean wunderkind Derek Blaz, where he walks away with $250,000 of a $1,000,000 prize pool.

Zeng "Xiao Hai" Zhuojun, the reigning Street Fighter 6 2024 Esports World Cup champion, came close to adding another trophy to his cabinet during the Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves at 2025 Esports World Cup competition, but fell short in the grand final, settling as runner-up. This time, in Street Fighter 6, he kept his cool, and was able to come back from a 3-0 deficit in the grand final to secure back-to-back titles as the Street Fighter 6 at 2025 Esports World Cup champion.

The KuaiShou Gaming representative made straightforward work of his opponents during his path to victory, as he breezed past Amjad "AngryBird" Al-Shalabi in a 5-1 finish, faced off against Goichi "GO1" Kishida in the quarter finals, and took down Torimeshi in his semifinal match-up.

His grand final opponent, Derek Blaz, who has set the fighting game community alight at just 15 years old, was looking to secure his first major Street Fighter 6 championship after placing as runner-up at Capcom Cup 11. Derek Blaz made his way to the grand final by conquering many of the world's top players throughout his playoffs bracket, including Shin "Leshar" Moon-sup in their semifinal bout, the elusive Dhalsim pro, YHC-Mochi, and Hiromiki "Itabashi Zangief" Kumada, known for his iconic Zangief play.

Derek Blaz opened up the grand finals by taking the first three games as Ryu, taking down Zeng "Xiao Hai" Zhuojun's M. Bison. With a switch in character to Mai, Zeng "Xiao Hai" Zhuojun was able to then come back from behind to level the game at 3-3, before trading games again to force a decisive ninth-game finale at 4-4. With a round each, with both able to claim the championship, Zeng "Xiao Hai" Zhuojun countered his rival in the final moments, and ended the game to retain his title.

“Wow, two times Esports World Cup Champion? So, so amazing. Last year I was proud, right? It was the first time I had been the world champion, and I cried. Last year was the most important world championship in my life. But I want to prove I'm still not too old yet. My age is twice his; maybe an old man can keep on going,” said Zeng "Xiao Hai" Zhuojun.

“I want to say this: I want to dedicate this to every single young player and fan watching this. Street Fighter is an amazing game; you are looking at us, where a 15-year-old can compete against someone who has played for 30 years. It doesn't matter how old you are, 17 years old or nine years old – the age I was when I started playing. Age does not matter in this game. This is the most beautiful game, the most beautiful fighting game in the world. Everyone can enjoy it, and everyone can potentially step on this stage,” he said.

With Xiao Hai's victory, KuaiShou Gaming earn 1000 Club Championship points for his victory, moving them up to 9th place in the overall Club Championship standings with 1750 points.

Esports World Cup media contact:

press@worldcupfoundation.org